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EUROPE March 26, 1999 VNN3427 Bhaktivedanta Manor Under Siege? FROM IRG ENGLAND, Mar 26 (VNN) — According to a report from IRG: A serious skirmish which occurred on Saturday at Bhaktivedanta Manor has been reported to IRG. This incident involved some gypsies and initially 3 devotees from the Manor. Our report says that a gypsy girl was grazing her horse on the Manor grounds on Saturday 20/3/99. While doing so she was approached by Mahavidya dasa the temple's enforcer. Just to give the readers an historical appraisal of the situation, it is well known by anyone who has stayed at the Manor for any length of time that there has always been conflict between the 'devotees' who live at the Manor and the countries vagrant gypsies. The gypsies come every year at certain times and set up camp near to the Manor. They tend to disrespect the Manors security arrangements and are a constant source of anxiety to the temple authorities. So, Mahavidya approached the girl and gave her some severe verbal abuse for being on the Manor's grounds with her horse. So, she departed rather vexed, vowing revenge. Later she returned with her brother but this time they were both apprehended by Mahavidya, Shymasundera and another. The result was that the gypsy brother was hospitalized with a broken leg. They let him out of the hospital on Sunday. However the gypsies then utilized their mobile phones and called up all the gypsies in the London area and the Midlands for support against the heavy-handedness of the Manor residents. The result is that the Manor is under siege at the moment with everyone afraid to walk in the grounds. Tribhuvanath has tried to relieve the situation somewhat by meeting with the gypsy elders. The elders accepted Tribuvanath's plea for a peaceful settlement but were unable to speak for their youth who seem to be out of their control. One solution to the crisis seems to be that of the temple authorities publicly disgracing the 'goonda' tactics of Mahavidya & co. By banning them from the Manor and engaging in more fruitive dialogue with the gypsy's i.e. apologizing with all sincerity. Comment on this Story This story URL: http://www.vnn.org/europe/EU9903/EU26-3427.html
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